That famous happy ending
Beau had a long day at work. One of the girls on the Nicodranas Nitros soccer team tore her ACL at practice, so Beau spent all day in the hospital with her and formulating a recovery plan for the girl.
She doesn’t get home until nine o’clock at night, but the good news is that she gets to come home to her beautiful girlfriend waiting for her.
She practically runs through the entrance of their apartment complex, wanting to get home as soon as possible. She shoves her key into the lock and pushes the door open, making her way past the living room and towards the kitchen, where Yasha is stirring a pot on the stove.
“Hi Beau, I’m making mac and cheese,” Yasha says, pointing to the pot on the stove. Normally Beau does the cooking, but on nights like these Yasha has a few emergency meals she can make for the two of them.
Beau immediately walks over and hugs her girlfriend, melting into her comforting embrace.
“Kiri is gonna be ok, right?” Yasha asks.
“It’s a horrible injury, and will take several months to recover after it’s healed, but yeah. She won’t play this season, but she’s only a freshman so she has time. How’s your thesis coming?” Beau asks, knowing Yasha has been working on it all day.
“Pretty good, I’m nearly finished,” Yasha replies. She’s been working on her Master’s of Music Composition at UofN for the past two years, and it’s all culminating in her final composition and thesis.
Beau finally opens her eyes and looks at the stove.
She sees the water boiling with the noodles, but the water is orange.
“Uh Yash,” Beau begins, still in her arms.
“Yeah?”
“Did you put the cheese powder in the water?”
“Yeah it’s mac and cheese.”
“You’re supposed to do that step after you drain the noodles.”
“Oh no,” Yasha says, releasing Beau and walking over to her monstrosity. “I’m sorry,” she continues.
“It’s fine Yash, this is just what happens when you rely on a meal plan for all four years,” Beau teases.
“It was convenient,” Yasha defended.
Beau laughs, “Wanna order Thai food?”
“Yes please,”Yasha replies, taking out her phone to order their usual, pad thai and dumplings. After a few moments, she says, “It’ll be here in 30.”
Beau starts to make her way over to their couch, but hears Yasha say, “Hey Alexa, play So Close from Enchanted.” Beau turns around to look at her girlfriend and Yasha is extending her arm out to Beau. Beau takes it and Yasha pulls her in a close embrace, grabbing her around the waist and swaying together.
“You remember that it was this song?” Beau asks in a hushed tone, remembering the sixth grade dance.
“Of course,” Yasha responds softly, “Our dance together meant everything to me.”
“I think I like this better though. Just us here and now.”
“Me too,” Yasha agrees, “Sorry again about dinner.”
“Yash it’s ok, you know I fucking love Thai food.”
“But I wanted to do something nice for you after the day you’ve had.”
Beau stops their swaying for a moment so she can look Yasha in her beautiful, mismatched eyes.
“Yasha,” she begins in a serious tone, “This is perfect. I’m so happy just being with you.”
Yasha smiles, and pulls Beau back into her close, letting the both of them get lost in the music.
Beau really listens to the lyrics for the first time as the song comes to an end.
This one's not pretend
Let's go on dreaming
For we know we are
So close, so close
And still so far
It ends rather melancholy, but still hopeful. To Beau, they couldn’t be closer, their relationship had a few bumps along the way of course, but they worked through their problems and always came out stronger for it. The final line, And still so far, rings out in her head. She thinks of the ring she has hidden away in her desk at work. She’s ready to ask Yasha for her hand in marriage, but wants the proposal to be perfect. They’re planning on taking a vacation to Rumblecusp Resort after Yasha graduates, and Beau wants to do it then. She’s seen pictures on the website of a beautiful cliffside location, and she knows that’s where she’ll pop the question.
They keep swaying together, long after the song has ended, just enjoying their intimacy and shared love. Beau is no longer scared of her future, knowing Yasha will always be a part of it.